BRIGHTON 0 FOSTER FORCE
WATFORD 0
BEN FOSTER formed a oneman wall to rescue a point for Watford but it came as no surprise to Javi Gracia.
Foster was magnificent in denying struggling Brighton, pulling off a series of saves that included an unorthodox sliding goalline clearance with his leg from a Shane Duffy overhead kick.
The former England keeper’s heroics kept alive Watford’s hopes of a first top-half finish in the top flight since 1987, and left the Seagulls with just six points from their last 10 games.
It also meant he extended his Premier League record of 1,012 saves – the most by any goalkeeper in the history of the competition.
Hornets boss Gracia said:
“In the second half when we were under pressure was when Ben saved us but it’s not a surprise.
“I know he’s a very good keeper and a very important player for us. It’s nothing I didn’t know. When Brighton created a lot of chances, he played better.
“He has had a brilliant career and now he is enjoying himself with us. He is working every day with a smile on his face. That is good for the rest of the team.”
Watford failed to get a shot on target for the second time in 53 league games.
Brighton have never lost a Premier League game in February (W2 D2). Brighton shaded a dreadful first half with Davy Propper volleying a great chance wide from a Pascal Gross free-kick.
Foster also clawed away a Jurgen Locadia header from another great Gross delivery.
But that was the only effort on target that either side managed in one of the worst halves of football you will see all season.
Throwing away a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 at Fulham last week was hardly the best way to come into this game for the Chris Hughton’s Seagulls.
But you could see from the urgency with which they started the second half how badly they needed a win.
At times only the finish was missing, with Solly March beating his man to deliver a peach of a cross that just eluded Glenn Murray.
Watford though, dug in well to repel wave after wave of pressure.
When Locadia took aim from 30 yards and sliced a shot so far wide it went out for a throw-in on the far side, it just about summed up the talent on show.
Locadia tried his luck again with a header from another great Gross delivery but Foster stretched to tip it over the bar.
Foster then slid across to clear Duffy’s overhead kick with an outstretched boot, and when Yves Bissouma smashed a longrange effort wide in stoppage time a point was safe for Watford.
Hughton said: “It’s frustrating. We deserved to win. Foster made three very good saves. I’ve always known his quality and he’s been outstanding this season in particular.
“But we were at home. We created lots of chances but you have to put some of them away.”